Saturday, January 21, 2012

Vegetarian Sweet Corn Soup

Everybody and their nephew must already know how to make a Sweet Corn Soup. I didn't. Before Jan 16th that is. I didn't even want to know. Sweet Corn Soup wasn't the kind of soup I ordered at a restaurant. At a restaurant I usually skip the soup. Except of course if it is Thai where I can practically live on the soup. And if it is Panera where I go to torture myself.

But on Jan 16th after all the PatiShapta and whatnot I went to the gym. It was a miracle that I remembered the co-ordinates given that I was going there after months.

And then I did something I should have never, ever done.

No, not steal towels silly. I stepped on the shiny, new digital scale there.

For a fraction of a second there was dead silence all around, the Zumba ladies froze with their clenched derrieres suspended in mid-air, the treadmills came to a stand still, the spinners hunched on their shoulders forgot to look up, the water drop from the water fountain forgot to drip. And then amidst clanging bells a voice from nowhere said "Beti jao, soup piyo" Translated in English "Go home and drink soup" but the Hindi actually has more punch to it.

I went home enlightened.

Before that I bought two small cans of sweet corn.

And then I told Mom: "Ma, today I will cook and then we will drink only soup for dinner"

Ma: "Ok, but after you eat rice and maacher jhol"

Me: "I guess you didn't understand me. ONLY soup for dinner. NO rice. I need to lose the whole 3 lbs that I gained since November to go back to a weight that was far from ideal in the first place"

Ma: "Why, what is wrong with rice. What has it to do with weight?"

Me: "Rice is grains and that translates to Carb. Dear lady have you not heard of South Beach-Palm beach-Myrtle Beach and such where humans do not eat rice and thus achieve a figure like Priyanka Chopra."

Ma: "That is okay, Priyanka Chopra is much younger than you. You eat Ruti. You know our neighbor in Kolkata, the Sen's, since her son relocated to Gurgaon they only speak Hindi and eat Ruti"

Me: " But Maaa...Ruti=Wheat=Grains. What did I say?"

My Mother gives me the royal ignore: "Do whatever you want. It is your house, your kitchen. but at this age don't tell me that eating rice one gets fat. It is exercise that you need to do."

Enter BigSis: "What soup are you going to make Mommy? The Thai Shrimp soup?"

Me: "Nope.Sweet Corn Soup. Remember in 2008 March you had it at N's house and loved it. Well that is what I am going to make for dinner today. Ta-da."

The husband man knew the menu that comes up in January and so is already on the first half of his extended travel plan where they do meetings in BeerGartens.

So I made a huge vat of soup and am eating it or drinking it (what ever is grammatically correct) all by myself for three days. I can do anything. I am also having the maacher jhol and bhaat. And then day before actually had dinner at a Portugese place where I ate paella and clams and lobsters. In between the soup is keeping me warm.

The recipe I kinda followed is this one here, but I did not add chicken or ajino moto or eggs.Instead I added thinly sliced carrots. Mushroom would have been good but I did not have any. I also used garlic, soy sauce, chilis and vinegar. I used the Sweet Corn Cream Style in a can and so the whole thing was pretty effortless. It actually tasted pretty good too and BigSis did have a bowl of it.

Heat 1 tsp Olive Oil. Add 1 fat clove of garlic minced to flavor the oil. Add some finely chopped green chili and then the thinly sliced carrots. Next add 1 tsp of Soy Sauce and a splash of the stock or water. Cover and let the carrot cook. Once the carrots are almost done add the sweet corn, about 1 cup of it.

Next a little vinegar followed by 1 whole can of chicken or vegetable broth. Meanwhile mix 1 tbsp of Corn flour with 4 tbsp of cold water. Add this to the pot. Add salt to taste. Let the soup simmer to a boil. Season with salt and pepper.

25 comments:

it couldn't have come my way at any other better time! thanks a lot. Last night I dared to stand on that shiny digital thing at home and i almost could hear it screaming and whimpering in pain. After a sleepless tossing n turning night when I had already decided to go on soup diet your post has come across as a heavenly encouragement.

You didnt know aobut the corn soup i am surprised :-) that is the first soup i have ever tried in the chinese when i was a teenager and i still order it when i go to india to a chinese there.I am dreading to look to the weighing scale as i have gained so much,and i think going to visit sis is not going to help me that much too.

Oh what a great read!!! I loved the description of the moment leading up to the akaasvani! And I read aloud the part about the husband man having meetings in Beergartens to my own husband man, who just came back from his own extended trip :)Thanks Sandeepa I will have to try the soup for sure, if for nothing else, then to pay homage to this fantastic piece of writing, Kudos!

Oh what a great read!!! I loved the description of the moment leading up to the akaasvani! And I read aloud the part about the husband man having meetings in Beergartens to my own husband man, who just came back from his own extended trip :)Thanks Sandeepa I will have to try the soup for sure, if for nothing else, then to pay homage to this fantastic piece of writing, Kudos!

Oh what a great read!!! I loved the description of the moment leading up to the akaasvani! And I read aloud the part about the husband man having meetings in Beergartens to my own husband man, who just came back from his own extended trip :)Thanks Sandeepa I will have to try the soup for sure, if for nothing else, then to pay homage to this fantastic piece of writing, Kudos!

Actually I never made this sweet corn soup. But 2 lose weight corn,carrot are not great choice.I managed to loose the extra pounds in past 3 weeks (no rice,wheat, oats- only for 3 or 4 days in week) just legumes/veg/fish makes you feel bloated but the scale reading gave a reward!What an illusion about ur weight announcement :)

I have been making this soup for last couple of months and its super delicious! I liked your version too. I add Ginger-Garlic paste and Chilli sauce to the CS Corn, garnish with Vinegar-Chilli and Soya Sauce.

Join the gang....I am living these days with a craving for soups soups and soups.I am also not fond of continental soups....but enjoyed pumpkin soup the oter day.

My usual one is Thukpa with chicken, prawn or just vegies. This noodle soup is my soul food. You can use whole wheat noodles or soya noodles as well to eliminate health issues as well. All u need is ready stock...and some boiled noodles in fridge....rest is upto you. Let me know if you try it ever.

Hmm.. that reminds me that I must get on those dreaded scales soon! With all the cupcakes, and chocolates and cookies, I'm afraid my scales will refuse to hold me up, leave alone tell me how far gone I am! I love your anecdotes that accompany the really great recipes!

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Predominantly a Bong, who loves being a Mom and loves to cook among other things for the li'l one and the big ones.She loves to write too and you will find her food spiced up with stories. Mainly a collection of Bengali Recipes with other kinds thrown in, in good measure. A Snapshot of Bengali Cuisine